Marketing your ice cream parlor: 3 tips that can be applied in your business

In any company, marketing is a very important investment. Through great marketing strategies, we can communicate with new and existing customers to help build the brand and maintain trust and quality. Therefore, it is necessary to develop specific and influential campaigns through value based content.

1. Deploy promotions at the right time

With that in mind, we have put together three tips of great marketing suggestions for ice cream parlors focused on optimizing sales of your business.

How well do you know your customer base? This question is essential to the success of any promotions you might use to increase traffic and sales to your shop. Understanding your customers' wants, the market direction and your profit margin can help you make more effective decisions on how you want your marketing strategies to be applied.

Another important factor is identifying the days and times in which sales and foot traffic to your store are at their lowest. From this information we can determine how and when to deploy a promotion.

For example, if Wednesday has the lowest amount of sales and visitation, you can offer a buy one, get one free deal. This will incentivise people to come visit your shop and buy your products. 

2. Offer innovative products

An ice cream parlor doesn't just have to sell traditional ice cream. In fact, it is worth mentioning that there are many other options to offer, such as popsicles, açaí bowls, milk shakes, sundaes, gelato, petit gateau, banana splits and so on. Bringing new alternatives to the ice cream shop menu is a way to distinguish your brand from your competitors. Shop decor, operating procedures and staff can also give a unique experience for your customers.

New ingredients and flavors can also be part of your marketing strategy. Researching new trends within the business industry can help with new ideas when deciding the direction in which you want to shift your marketing campaign.   

3. Invest in digital strategies

Advertising on social media platforms is one of the main marketing tips for ice cream parlors. This is because the profile of the establishment is often the first line of  contact between the brand and consumers.

In fact, the use of social networks should be associated with other marketing strategies. For example, if you have defined promotional offers or brought something new to the ice cream shop, using your Facebook or Instagram profile can be a highly effective marketing tool. By creating interactive content like polls on Instagram stories, in which people can vote on what they think has the most value, you develop an insight into the wants of your target audience.

The quality of your content needs to be high value. Great product images, engaging but informative copy and professional looking video are now the standard for businesses advertising on social media. Make sure to interact with your followers through posts and direct messages to help strengthen the relationship between your business and the patron. 

In conclusion…

These were three essential marketing tips to help optimize sales and brand awareness for your ice cream parlor. Remember to pay close attention to how your marketing plan is unfolding and be sure to make adjustments accordingly. Optimizing your time and money for your marketing campaigns is just as important as the content you put out. 

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